CITY TRYING TO SHED BURDEN OF SUPPORTING ARTIST COLONY

Officials are searching for ways to cut the city's contribution to the Ragdale Foundation, a local artist's colony, but the head of the foundation said he is skeptical that a deal can be struck.

The city government assumed responsibility for maintaining the six-acre colony in 1986. Since then, Lake Forest has spent nearly $500,000 replacing wiring and plumbing and maintaining the colony grounds, which formerly was the estate of an architect.

But tighter budgets are forcing city officials to look for an arts council or non-profit group willing to take over as the colony's benefactor.

Michael Wilkerson, Ragdale Foundation director, said he understands that money is tighter for the city.

But he added, "That also means it's a very tough climate for institutions of our nature. Some organizations that might have been a white knight five years ago wouldn't be good white knights now."

City manager Robert Kiely conceded, however, that it could be difficult for the city to shed its responsibility because Ragdale has an "iron-clad contract" that requires the city to keep its end of the deal until 2010.

The foundation is housed in the former estate of Howard Van Doren Shaw and has housed about 12 artists a time for the last 15 years.